Over the past decade, digital progress has transformed whole industries, ushering in a new technological era now known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Platforms and streaming services such as Facebook, Spotify and Netflix have transformed media and entertainment. E-commerce giants including Amazon and Alibaba have disrupted bricks-and-mortar retailers. Digital mobility companies are challenging automotive manufacturers.

These new technologies are not only satisfying consumer demand for better entertainment, shopping and transport. Innovation has improved companies’ productivity and sustainability, and redefined the skills and competencies needed to thrive.

Top 10 disruptive technologies in construction

Image: World Economic Forum, Boston Consulting Group

However, over the same period, the construction industry has continued to operate as it has for the past 50 years. It still relies heavily on manual labour, mechanical technology and established operating and business models. As a result, productivity has stagnated.

Only recently have digital technologies begun to enter the industry, gradually changing how infrastructure, real estate and other built assets are designed, constructed, operated and maintained. These technologies, including building information modeling (BIM), prefabrication, wireless sensors, 3D printing and automated and robotic equipment, are affecting the entire industry. Their economic and social impact could be substantial, given that the construction industry accounts for 6% of global GDP.

Within a decade, full-scale digitization could help the industry escape its decades-long stagnation and generate an estimated 12-20% in annual cost savings, equal to between $1 trillion and $1.7 trillion, according to our estimates.

Global megatrends should also motivate businesses to rethink industry practices that have not advanced. Climate change, resource depletion, a widening talent gap and rapid urbanization - more than 200,000 people are moving into cities from rural areas every day - are but a few of these trends.

"Current business models, strategies and capabilities will not be sufficient in any of these future worlds", says Michael Burke, Chairman and CEO of AECOM and Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Infrastructure and Urban Development community.

"Players along the construction value chain need to prepare strategically to thrive in the face of anticipated disruption."

To keep up, attracting new talent and improving the skills of the existing workforce were deemed priorities by 74% of industry CEOs at the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos. Improving integration and collaboration along the value chain (65%) and adopting advanced technologies at scale (61%) were other key actions they considered.

"The construction industry’s decision-makers should understand the disruption outlined in the future scenarios as a wake-up call. They should use the identified key actions to prepare and shape a prosperous future that will allow the industry to fulfil its role in promoting economic growth, social progress and environmental responsibility", says Luis Castilla, CEO of Acciona Infrastructure and champion of the World Economic Forum Future of Construction initiative.

Three futuristic scenarios for the industry

Image: World Economic Forum, Boston Consulting Group

Several scenarios were created by the World Economic Forum and 30 companies for how the industry could look in the future, based on global trends. They clearly show that existing capabilities, business models and strategies will not be sufficient for success. The scenarios also pinpoint several common no-regret moves that companies should take to remain relevant.

Our key conclusion is that businesses must act now to circumvent future disruption. Dramatic changes on the horizon indicate an uncertain future for the global industry and its more than 100 million employees. The following actions will be relevant, whatever unfolds:

Attract new talent and build up required skills

Any future scenario requires talent with substantially different skills than today's workforce. Adequate upskilling processes are largely not in place.

Integrate and collaborate across the construction industry’s value chain

The construction industry is characterized by a disintegrated and highly fragmented value chain, which hampers the seamless data flows and integrated systems that are essential in any future scenario.

Adopt advanced technologies at scale

The construction industry has been slow to adopt new technologies. It still relies heavily on manual labour and mechanical technologies, resulting in poor productivity.

Maximize the use of data and digital models throughout processes

This involves reviewing existing practices and infrastructure asset portfolios, to embrace new business opportunities and enable change management.

The myriad potential changes in the construction industry lead to high ambiguity and make it impossible to predict what lies ahead. However, with scenario planning, involved stakeholders can prepare for a variety of possible futures.